SOLD

Yep, it is official (well semi-official), we accepted an offer on our house on Friday night. We are absolutely thrilled, but I won't be completely elated until the inspection takes place and we are sitting across from the new owners on closing day. With that said, the new owners want the house by the end of the month so that has us scrambling to come up with a "plan" so that we aren't living in our car this summer. We are certain that God will be faithful though- as He always is.

We're praying that things continue to go smoothly.

Blessings,
Katie

Pretty In Pink

A Nation Immune

Earlier this week a troubled young man left his infamous mark on history by unforgivingly and brutally murdering over 30 people at Virgina Tech University. By now you've likely seen the images. A disturbed kid with an angry expression and guns pointed at a camera. An attempt to ensure his place in history. Thousands gathering to cry, hug and pray in Virgina and all over the country. Investigators pondering the meaning of "Ax Ishmael." Media members attempting to bring the victims to life through heart-wrenching stories of sadness and heroism. The empty faces of witnesses and survivors, all left with too many questions and too few answers.

I don't remember where I was when I heard the news about the killings at Virgina Tech. And that, I believe, is a problem.

While I am convinced that my daughter will one day read about this event in her American history books, I am equally convinced that days from now American life (and thus my life) will roll on relatively unchanged. What has happened to us that we treat a murderous killing spree as little more than an unfortunate event to discuss after the evening news? What has happened to us that we don't blink an eye when reports spew out numbers of the dead in the Middle East. 87 in a suicide bomb today. 146 in a car bomb tomorrow. These lives, these events have somehow become little more than numbers. We have become a nation immune. Why? How?

Katie and I witnessed a car accident this week on our nightly walk with Avery. We were about twelve feet from the car as it slammed into the rear of the stopped truck in front. Instantly the woman in the passenger seat screamed and leaped out onto the grass near the path where we stood in shock. As we called 911 she unrelentingly yelled of the pain in her face. Her wrist was clearly broken and she was visibly (and audibly) shaken. Likely she will remember that day, that moment, for the rest of her life. I probably will as well.

You see, human life is precious. I was reminded of that up close when I saw that accident. It is truly a gift. And although we don't often believe it, it's a gift that can be ripped from our grasp in less than a second. I think our generation is responsible for recognizing the magnitude of events like that at Virgina Tech and for acknowledging that we appreciate the gift of life that we have received. We must not continue to spiral into immunity. If we do, I shutter at the thought of what an event of this magnitude will look like ten years from now.

-adam

Treadmill Blues

It has been three weeks now since our neighbor, Steve, decided to drag an old and battered treadmill out of his garage in an attempt to "sell" it off his front porch. And while I appreciate his "my trash might be another man's treasure" mentality, it certainly doesn't bode well for us, who are desperately trying to sell our home.

It has made me more accutely aware, however, of what it truly means to live in community. I have often used this phrase when talking about those whom I "choose" to be in community with- my friends, my bible study members, my church family, my parents, etc., but I don't always think of living with grace and mercy among the larger community. And of course, I certainly know the verse that says, "love your neighbor as yourself," but, man, it sure makes it tough when your neighbor does something that you would never dream about doing. Loving him then becomes much more aggrivating.

I wish I could say that living in community with Steve is easy and comes naturally, but it doesn't. It's hard to extend grace. It's hard to show compassion. And it's hard to not roll my eyes when I walk up to my front door and stare at a beat up old treadmill covered up now by an even uglier blue tarp.



Blessings,
Katie

A New Look

I couldn't help myself... I just had to change the template on our blog... a facelift if you will.

Katie

Easter Sunday

I almost forgot about Easter. Here's a picture from the day. We had a great time celebrating at Adam's parents. And despite the cold weather I still dressed Avery in an Easter dress with no tights. She froze her tushy off, but she sure did look cute.

Blessings,
Katie

1,000 Words (okay... 13,000)

There Is None But I...

We have now been down in Naples, Florida for just about a week- we'll be headed back to Indy on Tuesday- and we have had a wonderful time being together. We have done all the typical "Florida things"

1. taken early morning walks on the beach
2. eaten a lot of wonderful and FRESH seafood
3. gone fishing (and actually caught some fish)
4. swam to the sandbar and found enough sand dollars to give to mother's 4th graders
5. lounged in the pool
6. saw dolphins and a whole school of sand sharks right up close to the shore
6. walked over to the the ice cream shop EVERY night for ice cream
7. and of course relaxed

It truly has been a much needed break from the craziness of trying to sell our home; something I have learned is much more work than I ever dreamed possible.

And while we have been having a blast, I can't seem to stop thinking about our surroundings and the surrounding wealth. Having grown up visiting Naples, I have seen it change over the years (or possibly I have just started to recognize what has always been present). The only word to describe this place is... opulent. Adam laughed when I used the word, but as I tried to explain to him, Naples is more than a place where the rich live. It oozes excess, self-indulgence, luxury, and an outrageous sense of entitlement. In many ways it reminds me of Daniel's description of Babylon.

What has bothered me most is not what being in the midst of this wealth has done to others (i.e spending millions on bricks and mortar, driving expensive cars, treating servicemen and women as if they were second class citizens), it is what it has done to me. In just a short week I have sensed a change in my heart, an adoption of the "Babylonian mentality." The worldly comforts this place offers are enticing and beautifully deceptive. They have tripped me up, made me question if a little more emphasis on the accumulation of money or things wouldn't possibly make life a little more palatable or enjoyable. I have to admit, I have gotten quite comfortable with nice fish dinners out, window shopping, doing whatever I please when I please, and generally thinking about me. I have even caught myself daydreaming about a nicer house with nicer things and how a little bit better job might get us one step closer to the Americna dream, which is displayed around every corner here.

So, while I am not anxious to leave the nice weather, relaxing days with my family and beautiful sunsets, I am eager to be reminded that there is a world outside of my wants, needs, and personal happiness. Even in Naples, God is trying to get all of us to lift our heads up from our own story and participate in the writing of His story for all of humanity. Its just been hard for me to remember that here in Naples. Thankfully, God has reminded me of this:

"But godliness, with contentment, is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we an take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Peace,
Katie

A Weekend Visit

On Saturday (just after the black-eye incident) we were blessed with a visit from our dear friends, Mike and Gail. They drove over from Cincinnati on Saturday morning and stayed with us until Sunday morning. We had a GREAT time!

We had lunch at Bagel & Deli, an old Miami pastime... and Mike went ahead and had a 2nd lunch at another old favorite from the Oxford days.

We went on a walk, the girls went shopping, we watched a little bit of basketball (okay, a lot) and just had a blast catching up. We had a wonderful dinner and chatted about everything under the sun. They are just one of those couples that we feel like it's only been a couple weeks since we've seen them last, even though this time it had been almost 8 months! We always pick up right where we left off, and we are definitely blessed to have them only 2 hours away.

It was also really fun for us to see them embrace Avery. They met her when she was about 3 months old, so they were excited to see how much she had grown. Avery was anxious to see her crazy Uncle Miggsy and Aunt Gail again too. It was so cool to see them all together and just think back to freshman year at Miami... who would've ever thought we'd be hanging out with our daughter?!

One thing Katie and I are continually reminded of is how wonderful our friends are. We are truly blessed to have close friends from both high school and college that we can say with confidence will be friends for life.

My first "boo boo"

Well, they say it happens to every baby eventually and although I'm not exactly sure who "they" are, their prediction held true with me. At only 10 months old I got my first serious boo boo - a black eye nonetheless. My mom and dad were pretty shaken up by it, but I did my best to calm them down and help them keep their composure. Here's how it happened....

See, we were all in the guest room and I was practicing my latest trick - clapping - with daddy on the bed, while mommy was checking her email. Daddy and I were playing patty cake and all of the sudden I lost my balance a bit and fell forward. Daddy didn't catch me in time and I bumped my head on the corner of the bedside table. Ouch! I cried pretty loud at first, but then I was okay after a few minutes. I got worried because mommy didn't seem to be taking it too well, so I tried to be tough for her. Daddy felt terrible too and said it was his fault, but I know it was just an accident and I'm glad I'm okay. They tell me I'll have a "shiner" for a few days... whatever that means. I just hope they stop putting that cold ice stuff on my face soon. Yuck!